A collective gasp fills the room. Including mine, which is probably loudest of all. He’s still looking at me and now one corner of his mouth quirks up in a little smile. It’s all yours, he’s telling me. Take it.
I don’t know if I want to laugh or cry, or smack him around for being such a dope. Why would he give up like that? Unless… No. I can’t let my imagination run away with me right now. I have to keep my head on straight.
He doesn’t offer an explanation, just sits back down with his hands folded and a satisfied grin on his face.
Amanda shrugs and sits back down in the audience.
I don’t know what to think or say. Everybody is whispering and murmuring while looking at him, then at me.
It’s all on me now.
“Trent, pal. Are you sure about this? You do understand that this eliminates you from the competition, correct?” The host glances at me before looking at Trent, who replies with a firm nod.
I can tell that this is not at all what they expected. They expected more drama for their ratings, for us to fight each other tooth and nail for the prize.
“Wow! Who would’ve expected this?” Chip exclaims, shaking his head. “You can’t make up drama like this, folks!”
Oh, go to hell, I want to say. This is not drama. Your show just fell flat on its face.
Chip turns to me. “Now, Dakota. I wish I could tell you this means you win by default, but I’m afraid it’s not that easy. You must complete your stunt, and the audience will decide when you’ve gone as far as you need to go.”
“As far as I need to go?” I ask, looking out over the rows of seats with a sinking sensation deep in my stomach.
Oh, no. Don’t tell me…
Again, he motions to the audience.
Again, someone stands and approaches the set. A tall, hunky man who looks like he belongs on a calendar or in an underwear ad. Abs I could eat breakfast off of, legs like tree trunks, arms that could squeeze a grown man to death.
I can’t believe they’re doing this to me.
“Alright, Dakota,” Chip coos. “Same rules for you and Kurt. Try not to enjoy it too much, okay?”
The audience titters at his lame joke. Someone should kick him in the balls.
I get up, and my legs are shaky. I don’t want to do this. Not in front of all of them. Not in front of Trent. I make the mistake of looking at him and he is not happy. At all. I wonder if that’s because he knows he’s lost, or because he doesn’t want me to kiss another man. One of his hands curls into a fist and he taps his thigh with it over and over again.
Kurt flicks his hair back by tossing his head.
God, I hate men who do that.
Looking up at him is enough to give me a crick in my neck. He’s so tall. This is the most awkward thing I’ve ever experienced, bar none. Even worse than getting my toe sucked on in public. Come on, Dakota. Good looking guys are usually the worst kissers, which is why Trent was such a surprise. As long as Kurt has nice breath this shouldn’t be too hard. Am I seriously going to do this? Yes, I am, because I have to win. Trent has made it easy for me.
“Don’t do it, honey!”
I whirl around with a gasp, searching the audience for the person that voice belongs to. She’s sitting up front, next to Jenny. I could die of shame and I don’t know why. And then I do. Of course, they have found her on my social media.
“Mom? What are you doing here?” My chin trembles no matter how I order myself not to cry. I go to her without thinking about it, or asking permission, and the camera crew scrambles to keep up with me.
She reaches for my hands and squeezes as hard as she can. “They picked up and brought me here. I knew you would never let me come if you knew,” she explains in a soft voice. “They wanted me here for the big finale.”
“Mom, I…”
She shakes her head. “I know why you did this, but I wish you hadn’t. Watching those clips…”
“It was all for you, though.”
“I know it was, and you’re a much braver person than I am for going through with even one of those crazy stunts. I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“I guess I had motivation. Nothing is more important than making you better, Mom,” I whisper.
“Sweetheart, you have to trust me. I’ve lived a lot longer than you and I know what the important things in life are. My life is worth nothing if you spoil yours.”
“I’m not going to spoil my life.”
“You’ve already put yourself out there for these people and their entertainment. I won’t let you make a fool of yourself for them right now.”
“It’s just a kiss, Mom.” I look to Jenny for help.
She doesn’t say a word. She only looks at me with a slightly sad expression, which is not what I need right now.
“It won’t end with a kiss,” Mom adds. “It won’t be that easy.”
“I have to do it, Mom.”
“Come on,” Mom pleads. “I saw those clips. I know who you would rather be kissing right now. That’s what this is about. They know how you feel about him and want to see if you’ll betray him for the money. Don’t let them do it to you. Stick to your guns. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“I could lose.” I choke back a sob. “I could lose you.”
“Oh, honey, you’ll never lose me.”
I can’t accept that. It’s a nice sentiment, but it’s not real life. She will die if I don’t get her treated, and I can’t let that happen. I let go of her hands with a smile, and walk back to Kurt anyway.
“Dakota,” my mom calls, but I don’t turn back to look at her.
Trent’s still waiting on the couch, still staring at Kurt with a murderous light in his eyes.
When I stand next to Kurt, he turns his attention to me. I wish I knew what Trent was thinking. I wish Trent could read my thoughts. I don’t want to do this. I want to kiss you. I love you. I want us to be together when this is over. None of this is fair. Please, know that I don’t want to do this.
Suddenly, his hand unclenches, a smile comes to his face, and he nods. “It’s okay. Do it. It doesn’t mean anything.”
He’s right. It doesn’t mean a thing. It’s all a game. So why am I crying? I can’t stop it anymore. Tears roll down my cheeks as I look up at Kurt. He looks stricken to think that a woman could be crying because she doesn’t want to kiss him. Poor guy, this is going to seriously hurt his self-image. But he doesn’t back down. I reach up slowly to touch his face. He’s just a man. Just another man.
There isn’t a sound in the studio as I stretch up on tiptoes. He leans down and we close the distance between us. I wish I could stop crying.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
My eyes fly open wide as the ringing of an alarm tears through the room and the audience bursts into applause. My head moves on a swivel, all around. What happened? They are all standing up and clapping.
“We have a winner!” The host is screaming, cheering along with the rest of them. Confetti and balloons fall from the ceiling, making it hard to see.
“What? What happened?” I ask, but my voice is lost in the commotion all around me.
“The audience has picked you as the winner with their voting devices! Congratulations!” Kurt pats me on the back and moves away, clapping along with the rest of them.
Mom is out there weeping with Jenny’s arms around her.
I did it. I won. But how? I didn’t even have to kiss Kurt.
I want to go to her, but I want something else more—Trent.
He stands when I turn to him and holds his arms out to me, which I gladly run into. I press my face into his neck. “I’m sorry!”
“What are you sorry for?” he asks with a laugh, holding me tight. It’s heaven.
“I know how much you wanted to win,” I say.
“I want you more. I want your happiness more.”
I pull back and look up at him.
He’s smiling as he strokes my face with a gentle, tender hand. “That
’s how it is when you love somebody, isn’t it? You want their happiness more than you want your own.”
Fresh tears fill my eyes. He understands how I feel about my mom. Then it hits me. “What? You love me?” I whisper. I’m afraid to let myself believe it.
“You are a menace on the roads, but I do love you, Dakota Manning.”
“Well, you’re an overbearing, arrogant jerk.”
His eyebrows shoot up.
“But I love you, too. I love you so, so, so much, Trent Walker.”
He lowers his mouth to meet mine and yes, this is right. This is the way it should be. His mouth closes over mine in a perfect fit, just the way our bodies fit together as we stand wrapped up in each other. Confetti floats around us and the audience screams louder than ever. It’s the ending they were waiting for, I realize in the back of my mind as Trent kisses me like it’s the only thing he wants to do for the rest of his life.
I can get behind that. Because it’s the ending—I was dreaming of.
Epilogue
Dakota
Two Years Later
It’s a cold, clear night, and I’m glad I went against the sleeveless cocktail dress I had my eyes on for tonight. The boat is heated, but when the real show starts at midnight, it will mean stepping out onto the deck to watch the fireworks kicks off the New Year.
“This is perfect. I can’t believe you got reservations!” I look around as Trent enjoys a sip of his after-dinner cocktail.
“Someone dared me,” he says with a smirk, and we both laugh.
I smile at him. Sometimes, I can’t believe this is my life. That anyone could be this happy. “Yeah, I know. You’re a big deal.”
He raises his glass in my direction before taking another sip of the amber Scotch. “Hey, you have no idea what a big deal I am.”
“Oh, I think I know,” I reply.
“No. You don’t. I’ve been keeping it a secret to surprise you tonight.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Uh-oh. What didn’t you tell me?”
“It’s good, I swear.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll be the judge…”
“You’re tough.” He smiles. “Okay, be the judge. What if I told you that you are now looking at the sole owner of the company Firedog?”
My jaw nearly hits the table. I search his face for any sign that he’s pulling my chain. He’s not. “How?” I gasp.
He shrugs. “Bought Sukie out. We signed the papers this morning. That’s why I couldn’t go out of town this weekend. And you were so pissed,” he reminds me.
I lean forward. “Not pissed. Just really disappointed. I had a surprise for you.”
His eyes light up. “You did?’
“I did.”
“Can I still have it?” he asks eagerly.
“You can have it tonight.”
He grins broadly. “Well, now that I know what I’m doing tonight.”
“Actually, you don’t. I told you it’s a surprise,” I say, pretending to be scornful.
His eyebrows rise up. “Now, I’m really intrigued.”
“You can stay intrigued. Now back to your surprise. You should’ve told me!”
“Like I said, I wanted it to be a surprise.” He sits back, smiling like the Cheshire Cat. “So? Surprised?”
“Extremely! I still can’t believe she went for it!”
“Eh, she knew it was time to move on. She jumped on-board after the game show aired, when she saw what I was willing to go through to get the capital, but two years have passed and she’s happy to cash out. She’ll made ten times what she put in two years ago.”
“I’m so proud of you. I wish I could jump you right now,” I murmur. I’ve done some crazy things with him, but attacking him in the middle of a New Year’s Eve dinner cruise might be too much even for ex-Dare Me contestants. Funny thing, we’ve never been able to live that down. Even now, we are often recognized. Sometimes, people want our autographs or just to shake our hands. They tell us that we are the best contestants that the show has ever had. All the others are pale imitations of us. Once a couple even pretended to fall in love like we did to boost up their likability score with the audience. The audience, which Trent had first thought were sheep, saw right through them.
“Ooh. Save that thought for later after my surprise.”
Trent growls.
It’s making me giggle. I think of my surprise and color floods up my face.
“You’re blushing,” he notes in wonder. “Wow, that must be some surprise you have in store for me.”
I turn my attention to the beautiful skyline as we glide down the Delaware. “It looks a lot different from this angle,” I murmur.
“You mean, as opposed to looking down at it from a helicopter?”
“Yes. But also…from two years later. If that makes any sense.” I look at him again. “Everything looks different on this side. Like, at this time, I was desperate. I had no idea how to pay for Mom’s treatment. I didn’t know if she would survive, how much time we had left. I was alone except for her and Jenny. I didn’t have another person in the world to lean on, or even share the happy times with.”
“And now, look how everything’s changed,” he agrees. “Your mother’s out on a date tonight, probably having a wilder time than we are.”
“Oh, I doubt that very much. Mom is not doing to any guy what I am planning to do to you.”
Trent laughs.
I laugh too. I know what she will be doing. She’ll be dancing until dawn with her latest conquest in a Center City ballroom. Just one of a string of men falling over themselves to earn an evening with her. Beating cancer gave her a new lease on life in more ways than one. I’ve never seen a woman so determined to squeeze as much out of every day as she is.
“There’s nothing but good times on the horizon for her,” Trent says
“And if there isn’t?”
He frowns. “Not the time to be negative.”
“I can’t help it. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and my heart’s pounding out of my chest because it hits me that everything is way too perfect. Doesn’t that ever strike you as odd? How perfectly everything worked out?”
He shrugs. “I mean, it’s not like things fell into our laps. We both worked hard before the show came along, and now we’re enjoying the rewards of our hard work. We both deserve it. Besides, it’s not like we’re resting on our laurels now. We’re still working to build our life.”
“That’s true.” Only it doesn’t quite settle the nervous fluttering in the pit of my stomach.
“Listen.” He leans close, taking my hand over the table. “Life happens. We can never predict what things will look like, even a year from now. There will always be twists and turns, but the one thing you’ll never ever have to worry about is us, you and me. We will always be the most important thing in my world. I am always here for you. I know we can get through anything.” He chuckles. “Look what we’ve done so far.”
His words and his smile are like a balm on my soul. He’s right. We can get through anything together, so long as we’re on the same team. And I know I’ll always be on his team. That’s something I never have to question.
He looks down at his wrist watch. “It’s almost midnight. Come on. I want to see the fireworks.” He gets up and tugs me out of my chair before draping his suit jacket over my shoulders.
I turn and look into his face. Mom said be grateful for the small things. Right now, I’m grateful that he never asks if I need his jacket to stay warm, or his arms to help me. It’s there if I want it. The feeling of always being protected, of always being the first thing on his mind, is one I know I’ll never take for granted.
He brushes his hand over the back of my neck, exposed because of the twist my hair is swept up in. He bends his and kisses the nape of my neck lightly.
A shiver runs up my spine. Even two years later, he still has that effect on me. “Can you feel the energy in the air?” I ask as we step out onto the deck. We reach the rail. Ot
her passengers are joining us, lining up and facing in the direction of the waterfront, where the fireworks are set up.
“What does it feel like to you?” he asks, standing behind me with his arms around my waist.
Between the jacket and his warmth, I feel completely comfortable and safe. “Promise,” I decide. “The promise of a fresh, new year. Anything can happen. Miracles, even. I wouldn’t have guessed you were about to come into my life two years ago at this time.”
“Same here,” he murmurs in my ear, and his mouth brushes against the diamond earrings he bought me for Christmas.
I close my eyes for a moment and make a wish. Please, more of this. More of him, more love, more happiness, more adventure. Whoever you are up there, please, give me more of this and I’ll never be anything but grateful.
“Ten…nine…eight…seven…” we count together, all of us on the boat and everybody standing along the water on both sides of the river. Our voices rise up like a chorus. The second we hit ‘one’, the first firework shoots up into the air.
“Happy new year!” I shout, turning to him for a sweet kiss. There’s cheering all around us, laughter and music. It’s like standing onstage during the finale of the show all over again. Or at Eva’s concert. The world is celebrating and it’s the two of us, kissing in the middle of it, in our own world.
“Hey. I have something to ask you,” he shouts over the noise from the fireworks when he pulls back from the kiss.
“What is it?” I look into his eyes and I see something there that I’ve wanted to see for a long time. A spark of nerves and exhilaration. This isn’t going to be any old question.
He glances to the left and right, at all the people around us, and smirks. “I could’ve done this in the middle of a crazy scenario. A sinking ship, maybe, though that has nothing to do with the status of our relationship,” he adds quickly when he sees the look on my face. “I mean, something that would reflect how we started out together. A crazy stunt. Skydiving? Bungee jumping?”
I giggle. “Oh, right. Because I would ever jump off anything after that helicopter.”
“You said you loved it and wanted to do it again!”
Dare Me Page 15